Board Policy Updates: August 8, 2023
Presented by Luis A. Rodriguez
Chief Legal and Equity Officer
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Current Policy Revision Steps
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Step 1: IASB Press Plus service sends suggested updates to the School District.
Step 2: Administrative team “unpacks” the suggested updates, and spends time vetting proposed changes through the administrative team soliciting input on behalf of Dr. Shah to improve proposed edits for the Board’s consideration.
Step 3*: Administration does a public reading of the proposed substantive changes to the Board, and provides the general public an opportunity to comment.
Step 4: Board votes on proposed changes. Upon board action, they become policy.
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39 Updates w/3 Subcategories:
Substantive Changes (10)
2.210 - Organizational Board of Education Meeting: After Board Elections have concluded, during a March meeting in odd-numbered years, the organizational meeting (meeting to elect officers) can occur within 40 days after the elections versus 28 days.
2.265 - Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure: In addition to citation changes, the administration is recommending that the Board name me - Luis A. Rodriguez Chief Legal and Equity Officer - as the District’s Title IX Coordinator.
4.10 - Fiscal and Business Management: New requirement that ensures disclosure to the public of the cash reserve balance of all funds held by the district related to its operational levy and, if applicable, any obligations secured by those funds at the public hearings where a) the budget is reviewed and b) the Board certifies its operational levy.
4.140 - Waiver of Student Fees: Expands fee waiver criteria, notice requirements and eligibility as follows: a) includes waiver for fines for the loss or damage of school property (for eligible students), b) notice of waiver applicability is provided to parents/guardians with every bill for fees or fines and c) makes students whose parents are veterans/active duty military with an income below 200% of the poverty line and homeless families eligible for fee waivers.
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Substantive Changes Cont. (10)
5.120** - Employee Ethics, Code of Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest: This draft has been re-written to comply with Faith’s Law Requirements. First half of the policy covering professional and appropriate conduct of staff language includes a) new requirements for posting and disseminating the policy language, b) clarifications on appropriate professional conduct with specific requirements for training on, recognizing and reporting behaviors related to child sexual abuse, and c) employee conduct standards that define appropriate employee student boundaries. Training on these requirements is included in required GCN (Global Compliance Network) modules all staff are required to complete. Additional training is ongoing. New language also defines sexual misconduct as required by statute.
5.20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited: Recommendation is to add the following administrators as the new named coordinators and complaint managers (Dr. Margo Schmitt - Non Discrimination Coordinator, Luis A. Rodriguez - Title IX Coordinator, and Dr. Luis DeLeon/Dr. Felicia Starks Turner/Patrick Robinson - Complaint Managers)
5.220 - Substitute Teachers: Update allows for short term substitute teacher usage to reach 15 days (when permitted by law via a disaster declaration by the Governor).
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Substantive Changes Cont. (10)
5.250 - Leaves of Absence: Recommended updates regarding leave mirror statutory updates and notify the public on when family bereavement leave can be used in the District. Also includes clarification language on paid administrative leave eligibility and criteria related to COVID 19 disaster declarations.
6.255 - Assemblies and Ceremonies: Adds language that recognizes Sup. Ct. precedent Kennedy v. Bremerton Sch. Dist. (142 S. Ct. 2407 - 2022). Proposed language respects an individual’s brief, quiet personal religious observance, but retains the requirement that the District shall not endorse or otherwise promote invocations, benedictions and group prayers at any school sponsored function or activity.
7.180 - Prevention and Response to Bullying: Recommendation is to add the following administrators as the new named coordinators and complaint managers (Dr. Margo Schmitt - Non Discrimination Coordinator, Luis A. Rodriguez - Title IX Coordinator, and Dr. Luis DeLeon/Dr. Felicia Starks Turner/Patrick Robinson - Complaint Managers).
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Note for the Board of Education and General Public:
Over the next few months, we anticipate a large number of recommended edits to policy language from IASB. However, any new mandates the District administration is required to adhere to will be acted on in our schools/buildings upon the effective date of new legal requirements while proposed language works its way into policy via the review process.
Thank you.
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